Buckle



Dec.` 16, 1958 E. c. ELSNER BUCKLE Filed Ochs, 1955 fifa/@MY United States Patent O M BUCKLE Edwin C. Elsner, Glendale, Calif., assignor to McJolm Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application (lctober 3, 1955, Serial No. 537,930

8 Claims. (Cl. 24-75) This invention relates to a buckle ofthe metal-,tometal type and, while having a variety of uses, is more particularly adapted, because of its quick release features, to releasably connectthe ends of-a safety belt.

Quick release buckles, particlarly of the type referred to, are usually operated by lay people and, therefore, should embody a foo1-proof operation, as well as be sturdily constructed andl readily operable to released condition with comparatively little effort.` Frequently, such buckles are placed under considerable tension force, whether used to connect the ends of a belt or for other purposes, and it is essential that release may be effected easily despite such tension forces. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a buckle construction that can be readily released by a quite small manually-applied force even though the buckle is being subjected to commensurately greater force, the structure contemplated being such as to enable release under conditions where the tension force is many times greater than the required release force.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle comprised of two buckle parts that are capable of effectingconnection of two strap ends and under high tension forces applied between said strap ends, and effecting separation of the buckle parts by a relatively small manual force applied in a direction transverse tothe direction of said tension forces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a twopart buckle in which one part embodies a transverse vabutment and the other part includes a releasemember in edge abutment with said transverse abutment and is movable transversely to the line of pull between the parts to release the same. Y

A still .further` object of thev invention isto provide a buckle of the character referred to that is.neat and trim in appearance and of such smooth outward appearance as to obviate catching or snaggingV of clothing, buttons, etc.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide Va quick-release buckle of the character referred to in which latching of the buckle .parts is effected withoutmove ment of the release handle. This is afeature that venhances the safety of buckle operation in the hands oflay people.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working `position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawing merely shows and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

v 2,864,145 Ice Patented Dec. 16, 1958 Fig. 1 is a plan view, half of the release handle being removed, of a preferred form of buckle according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view with said handle in longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view as taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of elements employed in the present buckle structure.

In the drawing, the ends 10 and 11 are either the ends of the sarne strap or of two separatev straps havingutheir opposite ends relatively xed. Said ends 10 and 11 may comprise the ends of a lap-encircling safety belt, a cargoconfining sling, a lifeboat release, etc. In any case, the ends 10 and 11 are adapted to be placed in tension while connected by the present buckle l12.

The buckle 12 that is illustrated comprises, generally, a buckle part 13 preferably permanently secured to strap end 11), a buckle part 14 adjustably connected to strap end 11, means` 15 to eiect such adjustment, means 16 to latch the buckle part 13 to the buckle part 14, and means 17 to move the means 16 to release condition of `the buckle parts.V

The buckle part 13` is shown as a ilat metallic member having a relatively narrow tongue 18 that extends centrally from a wider portion 19. The latter portion is provided with a closed transverse slot 20. through which the bight of a loop 21, formed in strap end 10, is trained. Stitches through the plies of said loop permanently hold part 13 captive to strap end lll. Said tongue 18 is formed to have a preferably rectangular opening 22 that is dened at the end remote from the wider portion by an abutment edge 23.

The buckle part 14 that is illustrated is made of a ilat metallic plate comparable to the metal used for part 13. Said part 14 comprises a backing plate 24 that is provided,at one end, with a transverse slot 25 and at the opposite end with transversely spaced pivot sockets 26, the same being spaced as to accommodate the tongue 18 of buckle part 13 and locate the same centrally with relation to the part 14. Said sockets 26 are shown as formed by convexly curved portions 27 of backing plate 24.

The part 14 further includes a hook-likeretainer portion 28l that is lbent upwardly from the plate 24 and then forwardly in the direction of the sockets to form a recess 29 that is receptive of the tongue 18 when introduced in iiatwise engagement with backing plate 24 and between sockets 26.

The portion of the backing plate 24 that has slot 25 is widened somewhat and provided with upwardly bent guides 30 that are Yformed to have longitudinal guide slots 31.

The buckle part 14 also includes a pair of transversely spaced posts 32 .that have heads 33 and are suitably affixed to the backing plate 24 in substantial rearward alignment with the sockets 26. Said posts preferably have a rearward position more nearly adjacent to slot 25 than to sockets '26.

The latch means 16 comprises an element 34 that `is shown in perspective Yin Fig. 4. The same comprises a Iplate 35 that has transversely spaced bent portions 36 provided with forwardly directed round-nosed extensions 37 designed to pivotally engage the sockets 26. The height of the bent portions 35 is such that a space is formed between plates 24 and 34 that will freely accommodate tongue 18 (Fig. 3). The element 34 Vis also provided with transversely-spaced, rearwardly open slots `35 Athat are loosely engaged` over the posts 32 in a manner to allow pivotal movement of said element. A spring 39 beneath each post head 33 biases said element in a direction toward backing plate 24.

The slots 38 are formed in lateral extensions 40 of element 34, said extensions residing in the plane of plate 35 and spaced above plate 24, accordingly.

The rearward portion of plate 35 is formed with a downwardly and rearwardly sloping tongue 41 that is sheared from said plate, as shown. The rearward edge 42 of tongue 41 is olset withvrespect to plate 35 to be in the path of buckle part 13.

It Will be understod that element 34 is capable of pivotal movement against the biasing force of springs 39 and, because the slots 38 are rearwardly open, no binding on the posts 32 occurs. In fact, the tit of element 34 between said posts and the sockets 26 may be quite loose with proper retention of said element in operative position assured nevertheless.

The means 17 is shown as a handle 43 and a pair of similar but oppositely formed members 44 (Fig. 5), the former constituting a cover for the buckle and the latter comprising the means for moving the element 35 to release position.

The forward edge of handle 43 is formed to have spaced relation to the forward edge of backing plate 24 (Fig. 3) and to be clear of the socket-forming portions 27 (Fig. 2). Thus, tongue 18 may be readily introduced into buckle part 14 and beneath handle 43. The latter is formed with a rearwardly sweeping top wall 45 that may be `stiliened by side walls 46. The shape of said handle preferably closely follows that f the shape of buckle part 14 except that said Wall 45 extends rearwardly of said buckle part and has a iinger hook 47 by means of which the means 17 may be manually actuated.

On the inner side, said cover wall 45 is provided with a pair of transversely spaced, downwardly extending bosses which are each iianked by a pair of ribs or cleats 49 that extend in a lengthwise direction with respect to the length of the buckle.

The members 44 are aiiixed to the handle part by means of said bosses 48 which enter holes 50 in said members and are staked or peened over substantially as shown. Each member is formed to have a liat part 51 in which hole 50 is provided and which is confined between the mentioned ribs 49 of each pair thereof. Each said member is provided with a forwardly and downwardly sloping part 52 that extends from part 51 to a iiat part 53 that is reduced in width and terminates in a round-nosed end 54 similar to extensions 37. Said members 44 are so transversely Aspaced that said ends 54 reside alongside and outside of the extensions 37 and are engaged in sockets 26 in the same way that said extensions are engaged in said sockets.

It will be clear that the portions 53 of members 44 lie in the same plane that is occupied by tongue 18 of buckle part 13 and that, normally, said portions have tiatwlse engagement with backing plate 24 of buckle part 14. A lateral extension 55 is provided on each part 53 and the same extends beneath the plate 35 and is engaged with the pivot sides of posts 32. Thus, the parts 53 are coniined between said posts and the portions 27 that form sockets 26. This serves to locate the handle in overstanding relation to the buckle part 14.

It will be clear that connection of the buckle parts is effected by an endwise introduction of tongue 18 beneath element 34 so that the leading edge of said tongue may engage and pivotally lift tongue 41 to allow said leading edge to become positioned within hooked retainer 28. When springs 39, which have been compressed by this action, expand as said tongue 41 falls into opening 22, the buckle parts achieve a connected condition. It will be noted that there is no lift on handle 43 during coupling of the buckle parts.

Quick release of the parts is effected by a lift on finger hook 47 of handle 43, the same pivoting on nose ends 54 and the lateral extensions 55 causing similar pivotal movement of element 34 to withdraw tongue 41 from engagement with abutment edge 23.

The strap end adjusting means 15 is shown as a bar 56 disposed transversely in slot 25 and provided with ends 57 engaged in guide slots 31. By reeving the strap end 11 first around said Ibar from beneath and then beneath the backing plate 24, a tensioning of free end 58 is provided which may be pulled to increase the tension on the buckle when coupled.

It will be noted from Fig. l, particularly, that the forward edges of extensions 55 and the rearward edges of bent portions 36 are so inter-engaged that the element is prevented from being tilted out of its normal position between studs 32 and socket-defining curved portions 27. Even when said element 34 is being tilted by the tongue 18, the mentioned rearward edges of portions 36 retain an overlapping relationship with the forward edges of extensions 55 to prevent the mentioned dislodgment of element 34.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the lspirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may Vfall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A buckle comprising two buckle parts, one part being provided with a transverse abutment edge, the other part being provided with a bend delining a socket, a member provided with a portion pivotally engaged in said socket and provided with an abutment adapted to extend between said socket and abutment edge, means spring biasing said abutment and abutment edge into engaged position to connect the buckle parts' against endwise separation, and a handle provided with a portion also pivotally engaged in said socket and with an extension between the buckle part that has the bend and the mentioned member, pivotal movement of the handle thereby pivotally moving said member to move its abutment out of engagement with thementioned abutment edge to release the buckle part having said edge.

2. A buckle according to claim l, said member and said handle each having aligned portions that are opposite to pivotally-engaged portions thereof, and post means xedly carried by the buckle part having the socket-defining bend in retaining engagement with said aligned portions.

3. A buckle according to claim 1, said member and said handle each having aligned portions that are opposite to pivotally-engaged portions thereof, and post means tixedly carried by the buckle part having the socket-dening bend in retaining engagement with said aligned portions, saidspring biasing means including said post means and a spring thereon engaged between a head on said post means and the mentioned member.

4. A buckle according to claim 1, the handle compris- 'ing a pair of members in flanking relation with the pivotally-engaged member, and a lift handle part overstanding the buckle and tixedly mounting said pair of members.

5. In a buckle, a buckle part having a back provided with a bent socket-defining end and with post means longitudinally spaced from said end, a member pivotally engaged with said socket-defining end and retained in such engagement by the post means, said member being pro'- vided with an abutment for retention engagement with a second buckle part, and a handle also pivotally engaged with the'socket-defining end and also retained in engagement with said end by the post means, said handle having a portion in lifting engagement with said member.

6. 'In a buckle according to claim 5, means springlbiasing the member to a position retaining the second buckle part against endwise separation, the handle being pivotally movable against the force of said spring-biasing means.

7. In a buckle according to claim 5, the lifting portion of the handle and the mentioned member being provided with engaged edge portions, the edge portion of lifting portion being positioned to engage the edge portion of the member during all operative positions of the latter.

8. In a buckle according to claim 5, the lifting portion of the handle and the mentioned member being provided with engaged edge portions, the edge portion of lifting portion being positioned to engage the edge portion of the member during all operative positions of the latter,

said engaged edges being 4disposed between the socket- 5 defining end and the postmeans.

References Cited in the le of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 729,523 Germany Dec. 17, 1942 

